Prosthetic devices



Nov. 6, 1951 M. D. HARRIS 2,574,180

PROSTHETIC DEVICES Filed May 14, 1949 54 15 15 II 142 MLVZZ-J'LD.HCLTVi5 10 4 15 3 1r 17 WW *mWHHIIm/Y Patented Nov. 6, 1951 UNHE'ED A STATE%PATENT @FFICE PROSTHETIC DEVICES I h Martin D. Harris, Paterson, N.Application May 14, 1949, Serial No. 93,26?

10 Claims. (Q1- 22-2) This invention relates to dentures, either full QWhere it is necessary to provide dentures, the

wearers thereof are frequently troubled by the loosening of the deviceswithin the mouth. This difliculty is particularly noticeable duringchewing at which times an unequal pressure may be placed upon theprosthetic device, causing it to separate from the mouth or gumstructure supporting it.

Various attempts have been made to overcome this difliculty, such asproviding small suction cups upon the denture adjacent the gums, andusing various adhesive pastes and powders. Since the pressure exerted bythe powerful jaw muscles is very great, none of the above-mentioneddevices has proved satisfactory.

,Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a denturestructure which will remain securely within the mouth under all thestresses of mastication and muscular and'tissue pressure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a denture which willcling more firmly in place when unequal pressure is applied thereto.

A further object of this invention is to 'provide a denture assemblywhich will be more easily fitted initially and more comfortable to wear.

Another object of this invention is to provide a denture structure whichwill be adapted to utilize the contours of the upper and lower jawstructure to a very great degree, thereby increasing its adaptation.

A feature of this invention is its flexible diaphragm which compensatesfordentur'e displacement.

Another feature or this invention is the provision of a fluid or gasfilled space beneath the diaphragm to improve the operationthereof.

A further feature of this invention'is the use of the flexible diaphragmto extend into th e undercut portions below jaw membrane and tissues toincrease the adaptation of the denture within the mouth.

A feature of this invention is the provision of a valve to replace thefluid below themembrane in the event of leakage.

The invention consists of the construction, combination and arrangementof parts, as herein illustrated, described and claimed.

' In the accompanying drawings'forminga part hereof, is illustrated oneform of embodiment of the invention, in which drawings similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts, and in, which:

Figure. 1 is a vertical section of a denture, according to thisinvention, shown with the upper mouth. structure within which it isworn.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 2, with the denturedisplaced as by a pressure applied to one corner thereof.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a denture for the lower jaw, according tothis invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-,-5 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings,,-and particularly to Figures'l and 2, Itindicates a conventional dental plate adapted for use in the upperportion of the mouth. Teeth II are provided in the said plate ill in thewell known manner. Immediately above the plate lilsand between the saidplate I0 and the roof of the mouth l2, there is located a thin flexiblediaphragm l3. This diaphragm i3 is secured to the plate [0 at its edges,as by vulcanizing, cementing or other suitable means. In this manner aspace M is provided between the plate It] and the diaphragm I3.

The space It may be suitably filled with air, a liquid or gas, such ashelium, oxygen, etc., so as to provide a cushion between the mouth I2and the plate II! at all times. A valve I 5 may also be included withinthe diaphragm is, so that if the fluid escapes fromthe space It, it maybe refilled. Alternately, thefluid may be increased by means of thevalve l5, to suit the comfort of the wearer.

.The'construction of the present invention, when used in conjunctionwith prosthetic devices for the lower jaw, is shown in Figures 4 and; 5.The well known rigid plate it is used, said plate having teeth l1aflixed thereto. However, by reason of'the. present invention, the innerridge it of the plate It maybe extended well below the point where it iscustomarily located. The diaphragm I9 is secured along its edges tomenuder'side'of the plate [6,so that it will be adjacent the gums 20.The valvemer'nber l 5 previously referred to connection with the upperplate Iii, may beincorporated into the lower plate diaphragm assembly.

The operation of the dentures herein described is as follows:

The prepared prosthetic devices are slipped into the mouth in the wellknown manner. The diaphragm l3 thereupon extends over the condyles 2iand beyond the ridges into the tissue, increasing the hold of thedenture upon the moutn structure. The portion of the diaphragm ad acentthe roof of the mouth [2 adapts itself to the mouth, making an air freecontact or perfect adaptation therewith. The diaphragm IS on the lowerplate 16 is similarly extended into the undercuts 22 below the ridges20. It will be seen that increasing the pressure upon the dentures willcause the diaphragms l3, ill to grasp the mouth structure supporting thedentures more firmly.

When the wearer of the dentures, made according to this invention, bitesupon food at one side of his jaw, as is customary in chewing, there willbe a tendency to spring the denture from the roof i2 and sides of themouth. However, the

force of the bite, as shown in Figure 3, will compress the fiuid or gaswithin the space M adjacent the point of pressure 23. The fluid willthen be forced into that portion of the space l4 which is relieved ofpressure, such as is indicated at 24 in Figure 3. Accordingly, air willnot be able to rush in behind the denture, and it will remain within themouth adhering to the structure of the oral cavity by virtue of theexpansion of the diaphragm.

The provision of the flexible diaphragm and its adaptability to thecontours of the mouth structure supporting the dentures, decreasesmaterially the time-consuming and painful process of fitting and gettingaccustomed to dentures.

It has also been found that the shape of the jaws changes constantly.The construction presently disclosed will alter itself in accordancewith these variations, without the need for new dentures or refitting.

By using a denture construction according to this invention, it will bepossible for a dentist to take an impression of the jaw, make therequired denture, and fit the patient with the prosthetic deviceimmediately after extraction. Moreover, the denture so supplied will bea permanent one, requiring no subsequent trimming or fitting.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is considered as new,and sought to be covered by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A denture structure comprising, a plate member, a pluralityof teethcarried by the plate member, a diaphragm secured to the said plate andadapted to lie between the entire mouthconforrning inner surface of theplate and the mouth of the wearer, said diaphragm being spaced from theplate member where not attached thereto.

2. A denture structure comprising, a rigid plate member, a plurality ofteeth carried by the plate member, a diaphragm secured to the said plateand adapted to lie between the entire mouth-,

conforming inner surface of the plate and the mouth of the wearer, saiddiaphragm being spaced from the plate member where not attached thereto.

3. A denture structure comprising, a plate member, a plurality of teethcarried by the plate member, a flexible diaphragm secured to the saidplate and adapted to lie between the entire mouth-conforming innersurface of the plate and the mouth of the wearer, said diaphragm beingspaced from the plate member where not attached thereto.

4. A denture structure compr ing, a plate member, a plurality of teethcarried by the plate member, a diaphragm secured at its edges to thesaid plate and adapted to lie between the entire mouth-conforming irmersurface of the plate and -the mouth of the wearer, said diaphragm beingspaced from the plate member where not attached thereto.

5. A. denture structure comprising, a plate member, a plurality of teethcarried by the plate member, a rigid diaphragm secured at its edges tothe said plate as by vulcanizing and adapted to lie between the entiremouth-conforming inner surface of the plate and the mouth of the wearer,said diaphragm being spaced from the plate member where not attachedthereto.

. 6. A denture structure comprising, a plate member, a plurality ofteeth carried by the plate member, a diaphragm secured to the said plateand adapted to lie between the entire mouthconforming inner surface ofthe plate and the mouth of the wearer, said diaphragm being spaced fromthe plate member where not attached thereto and a fluid carried withinthe said space.

7. A denture structure comprising, a plate member, a plurality of teethcarried by the plate member, a diaphragm secured to the said plate andadapted to lie between the entire mouthconforming inner surface of theplate and the mouth of the wearer, said diaphragm being spaced from theplate member where not attached thereto and a suitable gas carriedwithin the said space.

8. A denture structure comprising, a plate member, a plurality of teethcarried by the plate member, a diaphragm secured to the said plate andadapted. to lie between the plate and the mouth of the wearer, saiddiaphragm being spaced from the plate member where not attached thereto,a valve carried by the diaphragm communicating with the space, and afluid carried within the said space.

9. A denture structure comprising, a plate member, a plurality of teethcarried by the plate member, a diaphragm secured to the said plate andadapted to lie between the plate and'the mouth of the wearer, saiddiaphragm being spaced from the plate member where not attached thereto,a valve carried by the diaphragm communicating with the space, a liquidcarried within the said space, and a suitable gas carried within thesaid space.

10. A denture structure comprising, a rigid plate member, a plurality ofteeth carried by the plate member, a flexible diaphragm secured at itsedges to the said plate and adapted to lie between the plate and themouth of the wearer, said diaphragm being spaced from the plate memberwhere not attached thereto, a valve carried by thediaphragmcommunicating with the space, a liquid carried within the said space,and a suitable gas carried within the said space.

MARTIN D. HARRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES "PATENTS 1,738,626 Willey Dec. 10, 1929

